By Lauren Prem
Sports is much more than mere competition! It is a life experience – one capable of changing a person, for good or bad. As Vinesh Phogat strives to stand up for herself in a hostile environment, the Olympics 2024 has portrayed a shimmer of hope and optimism through a heartwarming incident where Neeraj Chopra’s mother calls Arshad Nadeem her son and Arshad Nadeem’s mother calls Neeraj Chopra her son, thereby giving testimony to the point that sports does not need to be all about competition. Nadeem and Neeraj won gold and silver respectively, yet Neeraj Chopra’s mother appreciates Nadeem’s performance and says “For us, silver is also like gold.”
India and Pakistan have always been viewed through a lens of rivalry and competition when speaking of sports, especially cricket. However, this story has (with javelin) proven that rivals need not be enemies all the time and that rivalry can come with a sense of support towards each other. Being sportive in sports is ironically missing in the era where India-Pakistan cricket matches are viewed with hate towards the opposite country. This story serves as a positive reminder that a glimpse of love can be found in sports when a good mindset is adopted.
A popular tweet on this matter reads “If mothers ran the world, there would be no hate or wars.” In an interview, Neeraj’s mother considers her son and Nadeem one and the same, thereby stating that gold or silver would not make a difference to her. Sometimes excessive focus on the outcome is said to be counterproductive. It leads people to convince themselves that short cuts and evil-rooted means are satisfactory if the desired result is achieved. However, approaching challenges with a good heart can get one to achieve more than symbolic wins – medals and trophies.
Giving and taking bribes, nepotism and aggressive rivalry have always been attributed to sports. These are some common activities that sportsmen indulge in, for a few trophies and medals. This makes us inevitably conclude that two rivals cannot look beyond sports and become friends. Nadeem’s mother further tells how she prayed for Neeraj’s performance too. An emphasis on spirit and dedication, rather than the outcome, brings more fame, respect and applause than any gold medal ever can. These two talented sportsmen have inspiring mothers, who are now the talk of the town, solely for their good will and angelic thinking. Neeraj and Nadeem are also good friends beyond sports and this amicability can be attributed to their mothers’ virtuous mindsets. They have given us a message that a heart of gold pushes one to reach significant heights!
